Strapping tie

ABSTRACT

A metal tape has spaced end portions each of which is formed with a plurality of locking catches with those of one end portion being adapted for engaging those of the other end portion in overlapping relationship of the end portions. Each locking catch comprises an elongated strip portion deformed out of the general plane of the tape and bounded at opposite sides of the longitudinal plane of the tape by a pair of lateral edges each of which has a pair of projections extending transversely of the tape and outwardly away from the longitudinal axis of the latter.

O Umted States Patent [151 3,659,318 Timmerbeil etal. [4 1 May 2, 1972 STRAPPING TIE 3,303,541 2/1967 Beach ..24/20 EB [72] Inventors: Eberhard Timmerbefl; Harald Timmeh 3,401,431 9/l968 l-leckmanns ..24/20 EE f 1 bell both 0 Schwelm Germany Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin [7 3] Assignee: Titan Verpackungssysteme Gmbl-l, Sch- An Mi h 1s,su-ik welm, Germany 22 Filed: Nov. 24, 1970 [571 ABSTRACT [211 App]. 92,438 A metal tape has spaced end portions each of which is formed with a plurality of locking catches with those of one end portion being adapted for engaging those of the other end portion [52] "24/20 BE in overlapping relationship of the end portions. Each locking [51] W365! 63/02 catch comprises an elongated strip portion deformed out of [58] Field Search "24/20 EE the general plane of the tape and bounded at opposite sides of the longitudinal plane of the tape by a pair of lateral edges [56] Rem-em Cited each of which has a pair of projections extending transversely UNITED STATES PATENTS of the tape and outwardly away from the longitudinal axis of the latter. 2,199,198 4/1940 Girvan ..24/20 EE 3,137,047 6/ l 964 Mosey ..24/20 EB 13 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures srmrmo ma BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a strapping tie crates and the like.

Still more particularly, the invention relates to such strapping ties wherein the opposite ends of the metal tape constituting the tie have a plurality of fastening elements or locking catches which are interengageable to form a fastening joining the ends of the tie together in overlapping relationship.

It is already known to provide ties of this type wherein the fastening elements comprise stepped slots spaced from the edges of the strip and in which the webs thus formed between the slots and the edges of the strip are bowed out of the plane of the strip in opposite direction on opposite sides of the strip to form an opening directed transversely to the plane of the strip and in which the shoulders formed by the slots overlap when in the fastened position. Because the slots are stepped, the projecting comers formed will interengage when the web of a fastening element on one end portion is in overlapping relationship with a fastening element of the other end portion and when the two end portions are longitudinally displaced with reference to one another. The steps in the opposite slots bounding the respective webs at opposite sides are provided in mirror-symmetrical relationship and each comprise a portion extending in parallelism with the longitudinal margin of the tape, which merges into a center portion inclined outwardly towards the longitudinal margin and in turn merges into a final or terminal portion extending in parallelism with the margin of the tape. Such a stepped slot has one comer or projection which overlaps a similar comer or projection of another fastening element provided on a superimposed end portion of the tape, and thus provides for a locking engagement. It is known from the art to provide the pair of mirror-symmetrically configurated stepped slot angles of this type and it was found that with such an arrangement the tensile strength of the connection established approximates 80 percent of the tensile strength of the metal tape itself. If the strapping tie from the prior art is used for strapping round bales and similar articles, where an overlap of the spaced end portions should be as small as possible, only a single such pair was capable of being provided because of the reduced overlap, and this was not found to be adequate for withstanding tensile forces acting upon it because it affords only a tensile strength approximating 25 percent of the tensile strength of the metal tape itself.

According to a further construction known from the prior art it is possible to provide a strapping tie wherein the stepped slots have an initial portion which merges into a portion inclined outwardly towards a marginal portion of thetape, and in turn merges into a center portion extending in parallelism with the outer margin of the tape, which center portion then merges with another inclined portion which is inclined inwardly away from the marginal portion and which terminates in a terminalportion extending in parallelism with the marginal portion. A web outlined by such a slot thus is provided along each slot with differently configurated projections one of which has two projecting corners and the other of which has only one projecting comer. When such a fastening element is placed in overlapping relationship with another fastening element and connected therewith, the single comer of one fastening element overlaps and engages with the double cornets of the other fastening element, with the single comer abutting with its leading edge against the end of the angular step in the other fastening element which step forms the dual corners. In this construction there is only a single point of abutment and the tensile strength of a connection established therewith is thus less than in the construction described above. However, when the overlapping end portions of the tape are displaced longitudinally with reference to one another, but in direction opposite the direction in which they are initially displaced to interengage the corners, then'a further interengagement will take place so that, accordingly, a connection is 2 established which is capable of withstanding tensile forces of the same magnitude but acting in the direction opposite to the first direction.

All of this is known from the prior art, but it will be evident that the prior art has certain disadvantages, especially with respect to inadequate tensile strength of the connection which can be established.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON It is, according y, an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved strapping tie of the type here under discussion which is not possessed of these disadvantages.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such an improved strapping tie which has a significantly higher tensile stress resistance than what is known from the art.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a strapping tie which comprises a metal tape having spaced end portions each of which is formed with a plurality of locking catches with those of one end portion being adapted for engaging those of the other end portion in overlapping relationship of the end portions. The locking catches each comprise an elongated strip portion deformed out of the general plane of the tape and bounded at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the tape by a pair of lateral edges each having a pair of projections extending transversely of the tape and outwardly away from the longitudinal axis.

In this manner the advantage is obtained that when a locking catch of this type at one end portion of the metal tape is interengaged with a similar locking catch at the other end portion of the metal tape, each strip portion interengages with the other strip portion at two locations with the leading edge of one projection of a strip portion abutting against the end of the step-shaped slot in the other end portion. This increases the tensile strength of the connection. Thus, the tensile strength of a single pair of engaged locking catches amounts to approximately 35 percent of the tensile strength of the metal tape itself, whereas if two pair of locking catches are interengaged, the tensile strength of the connection amounts to approximately 75 percent of the tensile strength of the metal tape itself. The arrangement most widely used in actual practice provides three locking catches on each end portion of the tape, so that three sets of interengaged locking portions are provided when the strapping tie is in use. In this case the tensile strength of the connection thus obtained approximately amounts to 88 percent of the tensile strength of the tape itself thus making it possible to utilize the strapping tie according to the present invention even for round objects in which only a single pair of locking catches can be provided due to the requirement that the overlap of the end portions should be as short as possible.

it is advantageous according to one embodiment that the slots or edges of each locking catch at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the tape each have an initial section extending at least substantially in parallelism with the longitudinal axis, followed by a second section inclined outwardly away from the first section longitudinally of the tape, a third section inclined from the second section inwardly towards and in longitudinal direction of the axis, a fourth section similar to the second section and inclined outwardly away from the third section, and a terminal section extending from the fourth section at least substantially in parallelism with the longitudinal axis. Advantageously the opposite lateral margins'of the tape extend in parallelism or at least substantial parallelism with one another and with the longitudinal axis of the tape. In such a construction the slots resulting in the formation of the edges can be more readily produced because the length of each section and for which the metal of the tape must be severed, can be made relatively short while yet relatively large corners are obtained. It is also advantageous to have the third section merge substantially arcuately with the second and fourth sections because this improves the force transmission in these regions.

According to another advantageous concept of the invention the terminal section and the initial section may be laterally offset with reference to one another, that is one of them may be closer to and the other may be outwardly farther spaced from the longitudinal axis of the tape. The spacing between them may correspond at least substantially to the length of the second and fourth sections. However, the initial and terminal sections may also be located on a common line which extends in at least substantial parallelism with the respectively associated lateral margin of the tape; in this manner the web defined between the opposite edges does not have its width reduced in longitudinal direction as in the preceding case.

Each of the projections on each edge has an inner and an outer corner as seen with reference to their proximity to the longitudinal axis of the tape. According to an additional advantageous concept of the invention the inner and outer corners may be located-at opposite lateral sides of the common line mentioned above and these corners may be equi-distantly spaced from this common line. In such a construction the interengaged locking catches will not become separated even if their respective end portions are displaced relative to one another in the direction oppositely to that which was first required to interengage the locking catches. This is true even if the end portions of the tape are not overlapped in usual manner but in reverse manner.

An additional embodiment of the invention provides for each of the edges to have an initial section extending at least substantially in parallelism with the longitudinal axis, a second section which is inclined outwardly from the initial section substantially normal thereto, a third section extending from the second section outwardly spaced from the initial section and at least substantially paralleling the longitudinal axis of the tape, and a fourth section inclined inwardly from the first section substantially normal thereto and longitudinally spaced from the second section. In addition, however, this embodiment also provides a fifth-section substantially normal to the fourth section and extending therefrom in at least substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis, a sixth section outwardly inclined and extending from the fifth section substantially normal thereto longitudinally spaced from the fourth section, and a terminal section extending from the sixth section substantially normal thereto outwardly spaced from the fifth section and in at least substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis.

The third section may again advantageously merge substantially arcuately with the second and fourth sections, and the sixth section may merge substantially arcuately with the terminal section. In this manner the corners defined at the juncture of the respective sections are not sharp and the danger of injury to personnel handling the strapping tie or handling goods strapped therewith is reduced.

In a further modified embodiment it is also advantageous that the initial and the terminal section be offset or spaced from one another transversely to the elongation of the tape so that the corners defined between the initial section and the second section on the one hand, and between the terminal section and the sixth section on the other hand, have an adequate width.

The distance by which the initial and tenninal sections may be spaced from one another transversely of the elongation of the tape, may correspond to the distance by which the third and fifth sections are spaced from one another in the same direction. In this-manner the width reduction resulting from the spacing of the initial and terminal sections does not exceed the width reduction resulting from the spacing of the third and fifth sections.

It is also possible to make the third and fifth section of unequal length so that the fourth section located between the third and fifth section need not be provided at the exact midpoint between the opposite axial ends of the respective strip portion, that is at the highest point of the bowed configuration obtained by deforming the strip portions out of the general plane of the tape. This is advantageous because a relatively great force would be required to do so, at least during the initiation of the incision which results in the formation of the aforementioned edges.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top-plan view illustrating the overlapped end portions of a metal tape according to one embodiment of the present invention with the respective locking catches not yet in interengagement;

FIG. 2 is a side-elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the locking catchesof the opposite end portions in interengaged relationp;

FIG. 4 is a bottom-plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the FIG. l4 embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating a further embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is another view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating still a further embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but of the embodiment in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating the end portions of the tape displaced longitudinally with reference to one another;

FIG. 11 is a view also similar to FIG. 3 but showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but of the embodiment in FIGS. 11 and 12; v

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating yet an additional embodiment of the invention;-

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but of the embodiment in FIG. 14; l l I FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 3.showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 showing still a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 but illustrates yet an additional embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 illustrating a concomitant embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 showing yet another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 it will=be seen that the metal tape is generally identified with reference numeral 10. It is intended for strapping packages or articles which are not illustrated but which are of course well known to those skilled in the art. For the sake of simplicity we have illustrated not the entire metal tapebut only its overlapped end portions ll and 12, it of course being understood that the tape in this case has been formed to a loop or hoop shape so that the end portions 1 1 and 12 can be overlapped in this manner from opposite directions. Reference numeral 11 identifies the end portion'which is subjacent to the end portion 12.

Each of the end portions 11 and 12 is provided with three pair of stepped slots or incisions 13, with the slots 13 of each pair being spaced transversely from one another with reference to the longitudinal axis of the tape and being arranged mirror-symmetrically as illustrated. The slots in the superimposed end portion 12 are identified with reference numeral 13; those in the subjacent end portion 11 are identified with reference numeral 13' as evident from FIG. 4. According to an advantageous manufacturing approach the slots 13 and 13' may be formed simultaneously by first overlapping the end portions 11 and 12 and then forming the slots 13 and 13 simultaneously in both of them.

FIG. 2 shows particularly clearly that the portions or webs l4, l5 and 16 formed by the provision of the slots 13 or 13 are alternately bowed or deformed out of the general plane of the tape to opposite sides of this general plane. The web 15 thus is deformed upwardly out of the general plane and the webs 14 and 16 are deformed downwardly out of the general plane as evident from the drawing.

The slots 13 and 13 are stepped as already pointed out and as clearly seen in the drawing, for instance in FIG. 1. Their provision forms on the webs lateral edges or shoulders each of which comprises an initial section 17, a second section 18 which extends at least substantially normal to the section 17 and projects outwardly towards the associated margin of the tape 10. A third section 19 extends in at least substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the tape 10 and with the margin thereof from the free end of the section 18 longitudinally of the tape 10, and from its free end in turn there extends inwardly at least substantially normal to the third section 19 a fourth section 20 which merges at its inner end with a section 21 extending in at least substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the tape 10, and which in turn merges at its own free end with a substantially normally inclined outwardly extending section 22 which merges at its free end with a terminal section 23 extending in at least substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the tape 10. In this manner, the edges 24, and 26, 27 are formed in one of the end portions, namely in the end portion 12, whereas similar edges 24, 25', 26' and 27 are formed in the end portion 11. The edges 24 and 25 are projections on the webs which extend outwardly towards the margins away from the longitudinal axis of the tape 10, whereas the edges 26 and 27 project inwardly and are of one piece with the remainder of the tape 10. This is true also of the edges 24', 25, 26' and 27'.

The extent to which the webs 15, l5, l4, l4 and 16, 16 are bowed out of the general plane of the tape 10 is such that apertures 28 are formed in which portions of the respectively opposite end portion 11 or 12 can engage. What is illustrated in FIG. 1 is the position in which the end portions 11 and 12 are assumed in overlapping relationship before the slots 13 are formed. Once the slots are formed, at which time the end portions will still be in the position of FIG. 1, these end portions can be manually or by means of a suitable device displaced with reference to one another until they assume the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which each locking catch in the end portion 12 will interengage with a corresponding locking catch in the end portion 11. When this is done, the projection 24 overlaps the projection 27, whereas the projection 24' abuts with its second edge formed by the portion 18' of the slot 13 against the end of the initial section 17 of the slot 13 in the end portion 12. Also, the projection 25 overlaps the projection 26 which abuts with its edge formed by the section 22 against the end of the section 23 of the slot 13 in the end portion 11.

It will be clear that the webs 14, 15 and 16 or 14, 15 and 16 thus are provided at their corners defined by the stepped slots 13 and 13', respectively, with pairs of projections 24 and 25 or 24 and 25', or 26 and 27 and 26 and 27. In this manner the tensile strength of a connection established between the end portions 11 and 12 is increased by approximately 10 percent, a substantial and highly valuable improvement. Thus, when only one of the three locking catches shown in FIGS. 1-4 on the end portion 12 engages with a similar locking catch provided on the end portion 11, the tensile strength of the connection thus established amounts to approximately 35 percent of the tensile strength of the metal tape 10 itself. If two of the locking catches on end portion 12 engage two of the locking catches on end portion 11, the tensile strength of the connection amounts to approximately 75 percent of the tensile strength of the tape 10 itself and when, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, all three locking catches of the end portion 12 are in engagement with the corresponding three locking catches 14, the tensile strength of the thus-established connection amounts to approximately 88 percent of the tensile strength of the tape 10.

1 Thus, it is possible for the first time by resorting to the present invention to use such strapping ties even for applications where a substantial overlap of the end portions is not possible or desirable, and where the limited permissible overlap makes it possible only to provide a single locking catch on each of the overlapped end portions. Even in this case the tensile strength of the thus-established connection amounts to approximately 35 percent of the tensile strength of the tape itself, as pointed out above.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show most clearly that the juncture between the sections 18, 19 and 20, and the sections 22 and 23, as well as the sections l8, 19, 20 and the sections 22 and 23, is arcuately curved. This avoids sharp comers which could cause harm to a user or operator. Of course, if it is for any reason desired to have such sharp corners it is possible to'provide them.

As the drawing also shows, the initial sections 17 and 23, as well as the sections 17 and 23, are ofi'set with reference to one another transversely to the elongation of the tape 10. The distance by which they are offset may, and in the illustrated embodiment does correspond substantially to the distance by which the sections 19 and 21 are similarly offset from one another and by which the sections 19 and 21 are offset from one another. In other words, in the illustrated embodiment the sections 17 and 21 (or 17 and 2l) are located on a common line, and the same is true of the sections 19 and 23 (or 19 and 23). In this manner the reduction in the width which results from this offsetting in the webs as well as in the tape 10, that is in the latter the reduction in the uninterrupted transverse cross-sectional area, is not increased by offsetting of one pair of sections with reference to the other pair of sections of the same locking catch. I

As the drawing also shows, the sections 19 (or 19') and 21 (or 21) are of unequal length. The purpose of this is to make it possible to have the sections 20 (or 20') located not at the 7 center of the respective web intermediate the opposite axial ends thereof, so that it does not become located at the highest bowed-out point of the respective web (compare FIG. 2). Otherwise, a relatively great force would be necessary to produce the required incision at the initial penetration of the tape 10 for the formation of the slots 13 and 13'.

FIGS. 6-15 illustrate four additional embodiments of the invention. In these instances the slots 13 and 13 each are provided with an initial section 29 (or 29) extending approximately parallel to the-longitudinal margin of the tape 10, into which an outwardly inclined short transitional section 30 (30') merges, which in turn merges into an inwardly inclined longer section 31 (31) which in turn merges into an outwardly inclined short transitional section 32 (32), with the latter being followed by a terminal section 33 (33) extending again approximately parallel to the longitudinal margin of the tape 10. In these embodiments also each of the webs 14, 14, 15, 15, 16, and I6 is provided with two outwardly extending projections 34, 34', 36, 36', 37, 37, respectively, whereby the reduction in tensile strength resulting from the provision of the slots 13 and 13' is again reduced.

With particular reference to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, and in FIGS. 14 and 15, it is pointed out that the initial sections 29 (29) are again laterally offset (tranversely to the elongation of the tape) with reference to the terminal sections 33 (33), with both the initial sections and the terminal sections again extending in at least substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis and the later margins of the tape 10. The distance between the margins of the tape 10 and the projections 34 (34') of the center web (15) equals the distance between the same margin of the tape 10 and the terminal section 33 (33). Similarly, the distance between the margin of the tape 10 and the projection 36 (36) of the webs 14 (14) and 16 (16) equals the distance between the same margin and the initial section 29 (29). The reduction in the uninterrupted cross-section of the tape 10 resulting from the lateral offsetting of the sections 29, 33 on the one hand, and the sections 29 and 33' on the other hand, is thus not increased by the projections 34 (34' or 36 (36 In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 the sections 31 (31') merge arcuately into the sections 30 and 32 (30, 32). This is a simple way of advantageously improving the force transmission in the region of the slots 13, 13.,

FIGS. 8-10 show another embodiment and FIGS. 11-13 show still a further embodiment. In both of these embodiments the initial sections 29 and terminal sections 33 (29 and 33' in the end portion 1 1) are located at least substantially in a common line which at least substantially parallels the margin of the tape 10. The distance between the outer edge bounding the margin of the tape 10 and the initial section 29 (29') thus corresponds to the distance between the same outer edge and the terminal section 33 (33). The projections 36 (36') which are defined by the section 31 (31') and the section 32 (32') and the projections 34 (and 34) on the center web 15 (15) are located on opposite sides of the aforementioned common line passing through the sections 29 and 33 (29 and 33'). These projections or corners 34 (34) and 36 (36') are equidistantly spaced from the line and with this embodiment the once-established connection will not become separated even if the end portions 11 and 12 are moved oppositely the direction in which they are first moved to interengage the respective locking catches. In other words, to engage the locking catches the end portion 11 and the end portion 12 are normally moved towards the left and towards the right in the drawing, respectively, but the connection will not become disengaged even if they are subsequently moved towards one another rather than away from one another. The reason for this is that the webs 14 (14) and 16 (16) overlap with the center portions or center webs 15, 15 of the respectively other band end portion, and the ends of the slots 13, 13 abut against the corners formed in the region of the sections 31, 31. This interengagement will result even if the end portions 11 and 12 are overlapped in reverse manner, that is when the end portion 1 1 overlies the end portion 12.

This latter possibility is more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 13 where it will be seen that as in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 11 the slots 13 and 13 are configurated in FIGS. 10 and 13 also. Here only the end portion 11 overlies the end portion 12, contrary to the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and l 1. In this case the corners 34 and 36 overlap with the web 14 abutting with its edge defined by the section 31' against the end of the section 29 of the slot 13, whereas on the other side the web 15 abuts with the edge formed by its section 31 against the end of the section '33 formed by the slot 13. In this case the webs 14 (14), 15 (15'), and 16 (16') overlap one another only at one point corresponding to what is known from the art and it will be appreciated that the clear disclosure of FIGS. 8-13 is that when the end portions 11 and 12 are properly overlapped according to the present invention, namely with the end portion 12 overlying the end portion 11, the tensile strength of the connection established is substantially greater than what is known from the art, whereas if the overlapping of the end portions is reversed a connection is obtained which corresponds to and has the same tensile strength as what is known from the art.

The embodiment in FIGS. 11-13 differs from that of FIGS. 8-10 in that the sections 31 (31) each merge arcuately into the sections 30, 32 (30, 32). Thus, the force transmission is improved in this embodiment.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 there are each provided three pairs of slots 13, 13. In FIG. 16 one pair of slots 13 and 13' corresponds to that shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, one pair corresponds to that shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, and one pair corresponds to that shown in FIGS. 8-10. In the embodiment of FIG. 17 there are provided two pairs of slots 13 and 13 corresponding to those shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15, with an additional pair of slots being provided intermediate them which corresponds to that disclosed with respect to the FIG. 1 1-13 embodiment.

Coming to FIG. 18 it will be seen that the embodiment illustrated therein is provided with two pair of slots and with two individual slots. The individual slots 13 and 13" are located at opposite axial sides of the two pair of slots and are configurated according to the disclosure of FIGS. 1-5. The two pairs of slots which are located between them are configurated in accordance with the disclosure in the embodiments of FIGS. 6-15.

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate embodiments in which individual slots rather than pairs-of transversely spaced slots are utilized. The webs 38 and 39 provided by these individual slots are bowed out of the general plane of the tape 10 in alternately opposite directions, that is one web is bowed out of the plane to one side thereof, the next one is bowed out of the plane to the other side thereof, and so forth. However, not all longitudinally consecutive webs are bowed out to one and the same side of the general plane. The slots 13 and 13 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 19 correspond to those of the embodiment in FIGS. 6 and 7. The slots shown in the embodiment of FIG. 20 correspond to those originally disclosed in the embodiments of FIGS. 8-13.

It is emphasized that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only and are capable of a range of modifications. The slots can, for instance, be arranged and configurated in a different manner than illustrated, and they can also be combined in a different manner on a single end portion or both end portions. The slots can also be provided individually in the end portions rather than in both end portions at the same time, and it is possible to so arrange them that the end portions can be connected by manually interengaging the catches after the slots are provided.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from thetypes described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a strapping tie, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. I 7

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A strapping tie, comprising a metal tape having spaced end portions each formed with a plurality of locking catches with those of one end portion being adapted for engaging those of the other end portion in overlapping relationship of said end portions, said locking catches each comprising an elongated strip portion deformed out of the general plane of said tape and bounded by a pair of lateral edges each having an initial section extending at least substantially in parallelism with said longitudinal axis, a second section inclined outwardly away from said first section longitudinally of said tape, a third section inclined from said second section inwardly towards and in longitudinal direction of said axis, a fourth section similar to said second section and inclined outwardly away from said third section, and a terminal section extending from said fourth section at least substantially in parallelism with said longitudinal axis.

2. A strapping tie as defined in claim 1, said tape having longitudinally extending lateral margins, and wherein said initial and terminal sections of each of said edges are located on a common line extending in at least substantial parallelism with the respectively associated margin.

3. A strapping tie as defined in claim 2, said third section defining with said second section and said fourth section respective shoulders which are located at opposite lateral sides of said common line.

4. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said second and fourth sections are shorter than said third section.

5. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said second and fourth sections arcuately merge with said third section at opposite ends of the latter.

6. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said initial section and said terminal section are spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal axis of said tape.

7. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said second and fourth sections are of identical predetermined length, and wherein said initial and said terminal sections are spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal axis of said tape by a distance corresponding to said length.

8. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said comers are equidistantly spaced from the respectively associated common line.

9. A strapping tie, comprising a metal tape having spaced end portions each formed with a plurality of locking catches with those of one end portion being adapted for engaging I those of the other end portion in overlapping relationship of said end portions, said locking catches each comprising an elongated strip portion deformed out of the general plane of V wardly from said initial section substantially normal thereto, a

third section extending from said second section outwardly spaced from said initial section and a least substantially paralleling said longitudinal axis, a fourth section inclined inwardly from said third section substantially normal thereto and longitudinally spaced from said second section, a fifth section substantially normal to said fourth section and extending therefrom in at least substantial parallelism with said longitudinal axis, a sixth section outwardly inclined and extending from said fifth section substantially normal thereto longitudinally spaced from said fourth section, and a terminal section extending from said sixth section substantially normal thereto outwardly spaced from said fifth section and in at least substantial parallelism with said longitudinal axis.

10. A strapping tie as defined in claim 9, wherein said third section merges substantially arcuately with said second and fourth sections, and wherein said sixth section merges substantially arcuately with said terminal section.

1 l. A strapping tie as defined in claim 9, wherein said initial section and said terminal section are spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal axis of said tape.

12. A strapping tie as defined in claim 9, wherein said initial section and said terminal section are spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal section by a first distance, and wherein said third and fifth sections are also spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal axis by a second distance corresponding to said first distance.

13. A strapping tie as defined in claim wherein said third section has a length which is different from the length of said fifth section. 

1. A strapping tie, comprising a metal tape having spaced end portions each formed with a plurality of locking catches with those of one end portion being adapted for engaging those of the other end portion in overlapping relationship of said end portions, said locking catches each comprising an elongated strip portion deformed out of the general plane of said tape and bounded by a pair of lateral edges each having an initial section extending at least substantially in parallelism with said longitudinal axis, a second section inclined outwardly away from said first section longitudinally of said tape, a third section inclined from said second section inwardly towards and in longitudinal direction of said axis, a fourth section similar to said second section and inclined outwardly away from said third section, and a terminal section extending from said fourth section at least substantially in parallelism with said longitudinal axis.
 2. A strapping tie as defined in claim 1, said tape having longitudinally extending lateral margins, and wherein said initial and terminal sections of each of said edges are located on a common line extending in at least substantial parallelism with the respectively associated margin.
 3. A strapping tie as defined in claim 2, said third section defining with said second section and said fourth section respective shoulders which are located at opposite lateral sides of said common line.
 4. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said second and fourth sections are shorter than said third section.
 5. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said second and fourth sections arcuately merge with said third section at oppositE ends of the latter.
 6. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said initial section and said terminal section are spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal axis of said tape.
 7. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said second and fourth sections are of identical predetermined length, and wherein said initial and said terminal sections are spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal axis of said tape by a distance corresponding to said length.
 8. A strapping tie as defined in claim 3, wherein said corners are equidistantly spaced from the respectively associated common line.
 9. A strapping tie, comprising a metal tape having spaced end portions each formed with a plurality of locking catches with those of one end portion being adapted for engaging those of the other end portion in overlapping relationship of said end portions, said locking catches each comprising an elongated strip portion deformed out of the general plane of said tape and bounded by a pair of lateral edges each having an initial section extending at least substantially in parallelism with said longitudinal axis, a second section inclined outwardly from said initial section substantially normal thereto, a third section extending from said second section outwardly spaced from said initial section and a least substantially paralleling said longitudinal axis, a fourth section inclined inwardly from said third section substantially normal thereto and longitudinally spaced from said second section, a fifth section substantially normal to said fourth section and extending therefrom in at least substantial parallelism with said longitudinal axis, a sixth section outwardly inclined and extending from said fifth section substantially normal thereto longitudinally spaced from said fourth section, and a terminal section extending from said sixth section substantially normal thereto outwardly spaced from said fifth section and in at least substantial parallelism with said longitudinal axis.
 10. A strapping tie as defined in claim 9, wherein said third section merges substantially arcuately with said second and fourth sections, and wherein said sixth section merges substantially arcuately with said terminal section.
 11. A strapping tie as defined in claim 9, wherein said initial section and said terminal section are spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal axis of said tape.
 12. A strapping tie as defined in claim 9, wherein said initial section and said terminal section are spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal section by a first distance, and wherein said third and fifth sections are also spaced from one another transversely of said longitudinal axis by a second distance corresponding to said first distance.
 13. A strapping tie as defined in claim 9, wherein said third section has a length which is different from the length of said fifth section. 